AWU urges action to protect frontline workers from occupational violence

A survey of Queensland health workers by The Australian Workers Union (AWU) has highlighted the urgent need for action to address occupational violence against healthcare workers.

Alarming survey results

The survey was conducted between January and April this year and received 1,279 responses, representing the views of workers from 114 Queensland Health facilities across the State. Workers included security officers, nurses, cleaners, wards people, food services workers, health professionals and administration staff.

They revealed alarming statistics:

• 69% have experienced or witnessed assault
• 64% feel unsupported by their employer
• 70% believe there's a lack of security.
• Most workers feel inadequately trained (74%) and unprotected (63%) in dealing with violence.

5 proposed common-sense measures

AWU's proposed Workplace Violence Action Plan urges 5 common-sense measures to be taken:

1. Queensland Health to introduce a standardised minimum level
of protective equipment across Queensland Health facilities for
security and staff.

• Equipment such as reinforced safety vests, restraints, body cameras, batons, earpieces and protective footwear should form a system-wide minimum. Personal duress alarms were also encouraged to be made available to workers across every workplace.

2. Queensland Health to ditch the failed MAYBO and MAPA
training models and replace them with a fit-for-purpose training
system.

• The training programs currently used by Queensland Health, MAPA in Townsville HHS and MAYBO elsewhere, aim to teach staff how to handle potentially violent situations by de-escalating them before they become physical. However, these programs are not effective for all situations. The MAYBO model sometimes requires multiple workers to restrain an aggressor, which is often impractical as security officers often work alone. This leaves them in a difficult position where they must choose between following the model and risking harm, or intervening and potentially facing investigation or termination.

3. A clearly defined Zero Tolerance Policy for violence, with assaults
on Queensland Health staff treated as ‘serious assaults’ under the
Criminal Code.

• Section 340 of the Criminal Code designates assaults on certain public officers like ambulance, police, and child protection officers as 'serious assaults,' leading to harsher penalties. However, workers such as security officers, ward personnel, cleaners, and kitchen staff are not covered under this provision.

4. Queensland Health to commit more security personnel to
hospitals across the entire system.

• AWU members campaigned at a Hospital in Toowoomba last year to boost security officer numbers during shifts. Despite being a mental health facility with over 150 beds, only one security officer was on duty at a time. More than 70% of workers feel there's a shortage or complete absence of security officers at the facility.

5. Streamlined WorkCover claims for Queensland Health staff
and better post-assault support.

• Frontline workers find dealing with compensation claims stressful, often hindering them from receiving deserved assistance. Certain public sector workers have provisions shifting the burden of proving injury eligibility for claims. The AWU urges the Department to collaborate with the union to extend these provisions to frontline workers and enhance post-assault support in cases of violence.

Comments

AWU Queensland Secretary Stacey Schinnerl said that Queensland Health is not giving workplace violence the attention it deserves.

“Our frontline health workers deserve to feel safe in the workplace, but right now our public hospitals are anything but safe."

“The rate of violence being reported by staff wouldn’t be acceptable in any other sector.”

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Sources

Queensland Health Workplace Violence Action Plan by Australian Workers Union, 23rd May, 2024.

Frontline Health Workers Call for Action on Hospital Violence by Australian Workers Union, 23rd May, 2024.